Hospital Universitario Marqués de Valdecilla

"The Lean methodology has allowed us not only to optimize the usage and design of surgical instrument trays, but to ensure the various groups of professionals – both health and non-health related – work well to deliver a culture of continuous improvement across all areas of the organization"

The customer

Hospital Universitario Marqués de Valdecilla is a publicly owned institution that reports to the Regional Health Ministry of the Cantabrian Government and forms part of the Cantabrian Health Service.

The institution is a major tertiary referral hospital and one of the largest employers in Cantabria. It also plays a leading scientific, social and economic role in the Autonomous Community.

The challenge

Hospital Universitario Marqués de Valdecilla (HUMV) faced a number of challenges as part of its process to optimize and adapt materials to bring them in line with new surgical techniques:

Redesigning surgical instrument trays

Defining new tray models to reflect advances in surgical practice

Reducing the variability of the intensive use of instruments

Laying the foundations of a method for reviewing surgical instruments

Reducing the financial cost of managing surgical instruments.

The solution

The use of the Lean methodology has made it possible to ensure staff in the surgery department have the tools and knowledge required to make informed and consensual decisions about the best set of surgical instruments to use in selected procedures. Lean techniques have allowed them to adapt a number of trays to new surgical practices.

The benefit

Optimization of 25% in the content of surgical instrument trays and identification of materials in good condition that can be used in other trays

Definition of new trays in line with new surgical techniques

Consensus among the different groups regarding the instruments to be eliminated

Methodology to continue with the streamlining of other trays and specialities